Well, I'm back

[Kinser79]

(01-09-2018, 11:25 AM)David Horn Wrote:

(01-09-2018, 09:30 AM)Kinser79 Wrote: Bob, your lack of self-awareness is noted.  Indeed, I think a lack of self-awareness is a prerequisite for being on the left while not being a Marxist.  But yes I did change to demanding liberty over equality when I stopped being a Marxist and started being an American Nationalist.

As for being wrong about you--I think not.  I've discussed these issues with you long enough to have a general idea of what and how you think.  Like many Boomers you think yourself complex when in reality your views are incredibly simplistic.  As to being wrong about Marxists in particular, I know I'm not wrong.  I spent decades as a Marxist eventually obtaining leadership positions in Communist Parties, and being recognized as a respected ideologist.  I've probably forgotten more about Marxism-Leninism than you've ever learned.  I'm also not wrong about the so-called progressives either.  The Marxists use that group as USEFUL IDIOTS.

Remember, it was you who was the Marxist.  In fact, it was only you, if I remember the positions of the many posters to this board and its antecedent.

And your point is what exactly, Mr. Horn?  You do realize that intelligent people typically change their positions when their current ones are no longer suitable, right?  I mean what would you call someone who does the same thing over and over and expects different results?  I can only think of two things to call such a person and neither are flattering.

 

Quote:Marxism was dead when the modern economy emerged in the 1920s.

 

History would disagree with you.  Marxism reached its peak sometime in the 1940s.  Marxism-Leninism in particular is an outgrowth of the matieral conditions of rapidly industrializing states--a la the USSR, and PRC.

Quote:It's even less relevant today.

I agree, but only because except in especially backward sates most countries have at least some light industry or the income to buy goods cheaply from the World's Sweatshops (China and India respectively).  By and large the growing industries are involved with information technology and the outgrowths of those technologies.  In short Marxism has become less relevant because the material conditions changed.  Interestingly this is the same reason why I walked away from Marxism after having been a Marxist-Leninist for a quarter century.

Quote:  A bigger question: what replace capitalism when AI replaces human work?  I know I won't live to see it, but it's coming.  Under that model, libertarianism will devolve to the rule of the mob or absolute autocracy.  I'll bet on the latter.

What odds are you giving because I'm willing to take that bet.  I by no means believe that industrial capitalism is a permanent fixture in human society but the idea that automation and AI will completely replace human labor entirely is absurd.  Automation has been happening since the start of the industrial revolution and so far capitalism not only out competed Marxist Socialism, but as the video in my previous post demonstrates it even out competes so-called democratic socialism.

Furthermore more people in the 20th century have died as a result of governmental action than from anything else.  So given the choice between a huge all-powerful state and society being run by a biker gang, I'll take the biker gang.  At least the drugs will be good.

So how many bitcoin are we wagering...I take gold, silver and platinum also.  You can keep your paper though.  I only take bets with items of intrinsic value.

Quote:As a social system, neither is acceptable, so some advanced planning is in order.

The USSR had advanced planning.  People stood in line for hours for potatoes.  While I think a lack of computing power did play a part (as I've referenced Toward a New Socialism by Paul Cockshot numerous times on the old forum and even a few times here) that is not the whole story.  Command economies have great difficulties with calculating price and correctly allocating resources and labor.  Simply put cats cannot swim the Atlantic Ocean.

https://mises.org/library/impossibility-...ntic-ocean